[updated 05/09/12]

A little sooner than I thought but I hope you like it none the less,

Nara Shikamaru P.O.V. - 4 years later, so Shika/Sasu are about 17 (no body swap for Orochimaru)

Chasing

It didn't take too long to track them down, Orochimaru's subordinates had picked up his annoying travelling habits but when it came down concealing themselves they still needed lessons.

We had found them in a stretch of dense forest on the edge of fire country that boarders with Otogakure; but finding them was only half the problem. Now have to fight our way through his new goons, get to him and bring him home.

"Shikamaru…"

I hear the wine from in front of me, it's Kiba, his shoulders tense as he sits on a branch with Akamaru beside him balancing precariously on the narrow stretch of wood.

"Wait Kiba." I tell him, keeping track of the hyperactive pup was difficult, he never wanted to sit still. The most troublesome thing was keeping keeping three hyperactive members of my team quiet…now there's a challenge…each of them ready to pounce at any given moment.

"Shikamaru, Choji still hasn't got back to us. We have not got time to wait for him. We need to attack now while there is one less of them." said the calm voice of Neji beside me.

I nod removing my gaze temporarily from the troublesome dog-nin to look at the Hyūga, I know he is right but I still do not want to leave my best friend on his own. How troublesome, I really should not be the team leader on this mission but Lady Tsunade wouldn't have it any other way, troublesome woman.

"Shika I'm fine…" a voice broke over the radio, "just keep going."

"Hang in the Cho." I responded a small smile on my face; he always knew when I needed him.

"Right," I start, getting everyone's attention, "Neji is right we need to start. Neji you first; find and point out the first for Naruto to take down," I pause and Naruto nods, "then you get the second, understood Neji." He nods to confirm.

"Kiba," I continue, "you are to sniff out the third and take them down while I try to get Sasuke stationary." I look round my make-shift team minus one, "try and get the others as far away as possible from Sasuke, he is strong enough on his own without any back-up."

"Hai!" he replied excited at the prospect.

"Radio silence please, we can't tip them off." I said through the radio just in case Choji was going to contact again. "I will track Sasuke down and try and hold him as long as possible while you guys catch up."

The group nodded and then Neji set out making the call for Naruto to follow, as soon were both out of sight Kiba and Akamaru set of to find their own prey, noses to the ground following some sent or another.

That just left me to seek out Uchiha Sasuke, our main reason behind the mission. The objective: bring him back home to where he belongs in one piece preferably.

As soon as I felt that it was safe I left the tree in search of my quarry, occasionally reaching out in the shadows cast by the forest to sense if there was someone around.

I found him eventually, but before my jutsu got within three metres of him he was off through the trees and the chase was on.

With his chakra infused speed I struggled to keep up, I needed as much chakra as I could hold on to for when it came to holding him still so that it would not easily break. This however also gave me an advantage while running through the trees as he would not be able to pin-point me exactly without the help of my chakra signature.

He finally stopped in a small clearing 10 minutes from where we started, I stayed in the shadows of the trees trying to regain my breath, I really need to work more then I wouldn't be like this now…troublesome, I take in a deep breath and look round the tree.

He sat at the base of what looks to be an oak tree with the normal Uchiha I-have-no-care-in-the-world look on his almost feminine features. It was almost as if he had no idea that I was following him, almost. I wasn't going to miss-judge him; he is an Uchiha after all.

I feel the presence of another chakra coming towards us but it is not one that I recognise. It doesn't feel as controlled as Neji's; as lazy as Choji's and defiantly not as adventurous nor loud as Naruto's or Kiba's.

I slowly look round the tree again to see a figure land softly on the ground in front of the Uchiha.

The figure, male, was tall and slim wearing in no formal dress of any country I could think of and had no visible hitai-ate to tell me otherwise. He also had a mask covering the bottom half of his face, not that unusual for a ninja, his light brown almost silver looking hair sticking up at odd angles.

Yet another enemy great, I watched silently from behind the flora my fingers together trying to come up with another plan now that I was out numbered yet again.

I watched as he walked towards the Uchiha who stood up in greeting. The mysterious man backed him up so that he was leaning against the tree and rested his hand on the bark above the Uchiha's left shoulder.

Thanks for reading, please leave a review, thanks ~Kuroda Miharu